interview: brian conley on hairspray and high heels

August 27th, 2009

You don’t need to have seen the original John Waters movie Hairspray, and its subsequent reinvention as a blockbuster starring John Travolta, to love this award winning West End stage show.

Hairspray the musical is great fun, vibrant, feel good and funky and is now starring Brian Conley, who has taken time out of his busy schedule to have a quick chat with us.

As one of the UK’s biggest entertainment stars with credits spanning musicals, television, film, comedy and variety, his career highlights include multiple series of “The Brian Conley Show” for ITV, regular appearances at “The Royal Variety Show”, television comedies “The Grimleys” and “Time After Time” and lead roles in hit musicals “Me & My Girl”, “Jolson” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, as well as many sold-out comedy and music tours and pantomimes.

So here’s a few words from Brian about his new role:

Q When did you start in Hairspray ?

A I started rehearsing on 22nd June and first performance was on Mon 27th July

Q On a scale of 1 – 10 (10 being the most) how much do you love it?

A 11!

Q Were you already a fan of the movie before you auditioned for the role? And which one
do you like most?

A I was a fan of the movie, the recent version with John Travolta

Q How did you prepare yourself for the role?

A I took Edna’s High heel shoes home and wore them around the lounge, much to my children’s
amusement!

Q What’s your favourite song from the show?

A It has to be Timeless to me

Q Do you sing it in the shower?

A Yes

Q What’s your favourite performance of the week and why?

A Thurs Matinee is my favourite, we have such a great crowd

Q How many weeks of rehearsals did it take you to get on stage, was it a difficult part to
learn and did you have to pick up new skills?

A Four weeks of rehearsal, and as for new skills – being a woman!

Q Do you see yourself as the leading ladyman in any other West End shows and if so what
are they?

A No this will be my one venture

Q If you had to be a leading man, who would you be?

A Gene Kelly

Q Can you tell us about something funny that happened during the show that shouldn’t
have?

A I knocked over the ironing board and iron as I didn’t realise how big my padded bottom was in the
costume

Q Do you get mobbed by fans after the show and what do they give you – chocolates?
flowers?

A There are always fans at Stage door, as for presents, not really, all I get is programmes
and bits of paper to sign!

Thanks Brian, we’re popping down to the show next week so give us a wave will ya?

Brian is joined by new cast additions Chloe Hart taking over as big-haired, big-hearted ‘Tracy Turnblad’ and Liam Tamne as heartthrob ‘Link Larkin’. This will be Chloe’s first job straight out of Guildford School of Acting and Liam Tamne joins the cast directly from “Wicked”. Nigel Planer and former “Emmerdale” star Verity Rushworth, are also confirmed to stay with the production through till October 2009 as ‘Wilbur Turnblad’ and ‘Penny Pingleton’.